Improvement in printing-presses



4 Sheets-Sheet l.

C. RICHARDS.

PRINTING-PRESS. 110176.059. Patented. April 11, 1876.

4: Sheets- Sheet 2.

C. RICHARDS, PRINTING-PRESS.

Patented April 11 PETERS. PNOTO-LITHQGRAPMER. WA'SNINGTON B .C

4 Sheets- Sheet 3.

C. RICHARDS. PRINTING-PRESS.

Patented April 11 C. RICHARDS.

' PRINTING-PRESS. No. 176,059. Patented April 11, 18-76.

* llllilllllIlil) u'iiif W mmli a x mm m: llllllllil 7 parts of mydevice.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES RICHARDS, OF GLEVELAND, OHIO.

VIMPROVEMENT lN PRINTING-PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 176,059, dated April11, 1876; application filed December 27, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES RIGHARDS, ofCleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain'new and useful Improvements in Printing-Presses; and 1 do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact desciiption of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in printing-presses.

1n the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a printing-press,according to my invention, showing the platen and bed as separated oropen; Fig. 2, a plan view of same; Fig. 3, a view in section, takenthrough line w x of Fig. 2, representing my press with the platen andbed in an open position Fig. 4., the same, showing thedevice in theposition of taking an impression. Fig. '5 is a detached view, showingone end of the platen with its cylinder, piston, and attached parts.detached sectional view of the same, with the dotted lines illustratingits operation. Fig. 7 is a face view of the inking mechanism; Fig. 8, aside elevation of same. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the belt-shifter andits braking apparatus. Fig. 10 is a front elevation of platen, gripers,frisket, and jointed connection. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of theparts shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is an enlarged and detailed view of someof the parts shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is an enlarged and detached viewof parts shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the bed, itstoggles, and link. Fig. 15 shows a modification of my combined brake andshifting device.

My invention consists in the following parts and combinations, ashereinafter specified and claimed, wherein A is any suitable frame, soconstructed and fashioned as to permit of the proper adjustment andoperation of the various A is that end of the frame A upon which areprovided the toggles, as will hereinafter more fully appear. A is thatend of the frame opposite the end A B are two parallel bars or rods,which not only Fig. 6 is a serve to indirectly resist the tensionbrought upon the operating parts, but also act in combination with otherportions of the device in serve as guides and directors for the bed. Ido not narrowly limit myself to the precise construction and number ofthe rods B, as herein shown, as it would be possible to construct themachine with one, two, or possibly more of these rods. O is the bed uponwhich rests the type. C O are the arms of a toggle-lever, arranged toactuate the bed 0. 'lhe arm 0 or said toggles is pivoted to the shaft A0 is a connecting-rod uniting the crank (J of the shaft 0 with thetoggles (l 0 G is a gear-wheel, operated by the pinion H of the shaft H,to which shaft the power is applied by means of pulleys or theirequivalents. C is an arm, one extremity of which is pivoted to the frameA, while the other is journaled or pivoted to the projection or arm ofthe bed 0. The attachment of the arm 0 to'the bed-frame O is made insuch a manner as to convert the bed 0 into a lover of the first order,the fulcrum of which is at the shaft 0, thepower at the attachment-arm Cand the weight at the face of the bed. 0 is a fixed and immovable shaft,proceeding from the sliding boxes 0, which travel along the parallelbar. B. The shaft 0 carries the bed 0, which revolves upon it in theoperation of the device. D is a platen; D its bed or frame, which isprovided with any suitable device, such as set-screws or the like,whereby the platen may be suitably adjusted to receive a perfectimpression upon the paper to be printed. l) is a cylinder, rigidly fixedto the frame D of the plHtGll,,Llld at a suitable angle to the plane ofits face, for the purpose which will hereafter more fully appear. Withinthis cylinder D operates the piston or plunger D which is alreadypivoted to the link D by which connection is made with the sliding boxes0 also to the stop or look piece D which is loosely pivoted to the frameA, or which may be fixed upon a suitable shaft. This lock-piece D isformed substantially as shown in the drawings, and provided with aprojection of such dimension and contour as that it shall act to fix theframe of the platen firmly and rigidly in a perpendicularposition,

and there hold it while an impression is being taken.

The operation of this feature is shown in detail in Fig. 6 of thedrawings.

It will be understood that this lock-piece D has its main bodydirectlyconnectingwith the piston D while its arm projects forward andupward at as suitable angle to bring itself up against the back of theplaten, as the latter assumes a vertical position.

A rigid support is thus furnished the platen in taking an impressionformed by the combined action of the shafts d and I.

d is a shaft journaled in the end A of the frame A, upon which operatesthe frame D of the platen. d is a lug or projection extending from theplaten D, and terminating in a joint at the head of the spring E. d aregriper joint is permitted to operate and the gripers;

(I allowed to fall upon the platen.

F is the frame carrying the inking mechanism, which may be adjusted bybeing fixed at any desired point along the parallel bars B, along whichit slides by the accommodation of the collar f as shown in Fig. 7. F isthe plate upon which ink is distributed. This may be in the shape of arotating disk, if desired, and the usual appliances adopted foroperating it. F is a shaft which operates the inking mechanism. F is anangular lever operating in connection with the action of the shaft F towhich it is attached. The short arm of the lever F is connected by thelink F to the crank 0 of the main shaft 0 to.

which power is applied, as heretofore stated. The longer arm of thelever F is pivoted to the link E, which connects the lever F with theroller carriage or frame F. fis atruck or way, upon which travel theinking-rollers after they have passed beyond the ink-plate F, afterleaving which, they are supported upon the projecting pieces f of thebed 0. f represents the inking-rollers operating in the frame orcarriage F G is a collar provided with a set-screw or other suitableclamping apparatus, whereby it may be fixed upon the cross-piece G whichextends between and connects the arm F -and' F in such a manner as thatwhen the arm F is opera-ted it shall carry with it the parts justmentioned. G are two springs coiled in opposition to each other, andplaced upon the cross-piece G -on either side of the collar G.

"apparent that by a simple loosening and turning of the collar G uponthe cross-piece G the spring G2 might be fixed at any degree of tensionby setting or clamping the collar Gr upon the cross-piece G.

H is the driving-shaft of the device, provided with its governingwheel HThis shaft is driven by pulleys in'the usual manner, and it in turnoperates the main shaft of the machinery through the engagement of its"pinion H with the gear-wheel G. If it is desired to operate the devicewithout the assistance of steam-power, this may beaccomplished byoperating the treadle H which is made to connect with and operates thedriving-shaft H in any suitable manner.

I is the shaft of the belt'shifter and braking apparatus. This shaft isoperated by means of the lever 1 The lever I is one of the first order,with its fulcrum at the shaft I, its weight being the'belt shifting andbraking device. The lower arm of the lever I is provided with a slot,which accommodates a lug proceeding from the angle-piece 1 Thisanglepiece is pivoted at i, and terminates in fingersor equivalentsthereof for embracing the belt, so as to shift it alternately from theidle pulley to the operating pulley of the shaft H. Upon the extremityof the shaft, opposite the lever I is fixed the arm 1 to which isattached any suitable rubber or brake for impinging against theperiphery of the governing-wheel H Operation: Power is originallyapplied to the shaft H," either through its pulley or by the treadleHProceeding, first,to describe the operation of the device as regards thebed 0, it will be noticed that the power is transmitted through thepinion H and gear-wheel G to the crank O of the shaft (3 whereby,through the medium of the connecting-rod 0 reciprocal motion is impartedat the union of the toggleG C The operation of the arm '0 swinging as itdoes from its pivot or shaft A ,is merely to impart a circular motion atthe junction of the toggles C As the crank O rises the operation of theconnectingrod and toggles just mentioned is to cause the bed to traveltoward the end A of the frame, while at the same time bringing said bedfrom its inclined to a vertical position. This movement and operation ofthe bed 0 is owing not only to the operation of the parts justmentioned, but also to an influence exerted by the arm O which, as it isbrought toward the vertical position by the passage of the bed 0 alongthe rods B toward the end A forces up the arm of the bed 0 to which it(the arm (P) is attached, so that when the crank ()"has reached itsupper maximum the face of the bed 0 shall be vertical.

The operation of the platen D, and its aceompanying and neighboringparts, is as follows: Power is transmitted from the crank drical arm Dwhich is fixed to or is a part of the frame D of the platen. By theprovision of the cylinder and piston D and D and the connections justmentioned, the reciprocal motion of the sliding collar 0 imparts anoscillating motion both to the platen D, and to the locking-piece D bymeans of the single joint or connection uniting the link D piston D andlocking-piece D, as shown in Fig. 3of the drawings.

By the a1 rangements of parts just mentioned it is evident that theplaten D receives its motive power directly from and in concert with thebed 0 in such a manner that when the bed 0 has been brought to itsvertical position the platen D will present appositely and in a verticalposition. In other words, the faces of the bed (J and platen D will meetand abut on the same vertical plane so that an impression or print willbe made between them in the ordinary manner. Upon the frame of the bed 0and the end of A are provided counterpart lugs and recesses, or theequivalent thereof, which serve as a guard to the bed 0, and as a meansof securing it in a firm verticalpositionwhile an impression is beingtaken.

Referring now to the griping apparatus, (shown particularly in Figs. 3,10, 12, and 13 of the drawings,) it will be noticed that the spring E,which is attached to the frame A, terminates in two joints or hinges, 61d At the foot of the platen I) the joint (1 as hereinbefore described,is provided merely for convenience in setting or adjusting the fingersof the frisket. This joint is not intended to operate during the processof printing, and it is therefore locked and may be operated by theprovision of the blocks and pins or their equivalent device hereinbeforespecified.

As the platen l) is made to assume its vertical position the spring E isforced down, while the fingers of the frisket are always maintained inthe vertical position, meeting the sheet to be printed at the moment ofimpression. When the impression has been taken, and the platen and bedare removed from the frisket, the printed sheet is removed from the typeby the action of the fingers of the frisket, when it may be delivered orremoved in any suitable manner, to make room for the next sheet.

The operation of the inking mechanism is as follows: A crank, C of theshaft imparts a rocking motion to the angular lever F through the link FThe angular lever F is pivoted to the frame Fat F, as shown in detail atFig. 8 of the drawings. The rocking motion imparted to the lever F .istransmitted through the link F* to the carriage or frame F of theinking-rollers, whereby said rollers are carried to ,and fro over theinkingplate and the type upon the bed 0. The function of the springs Gis to retain the inking-rollers in constant actual contact both. withthe inking-plate F and the type. The springs G connected as they are tothe lever F and the, collar G, can be set to,any desired degree oftension by simply turning the collar Gr uponthe cross-piece G Theoperation of this spring is not only to retain the rollers in constantcontact with the proper surfaces, but further to cause a stronger orfirmer pressure and contact to be made upon the face of the type thanupon the surface of the inkingplate, inasmuch as the tension isincreased upon the spring G as the rollers advance toward the bed 0,while it is relapsed upon their return to the inkingplate F, at whichpoint a lighter degree of pressure is desired.

To prevent the inking-rollers from dropping after leaving the plate F,the track or way f is provided, as shown in Fig. 3, after leaving whichthe rollers are received upon a support projecting from the bed C, overwhich it is conducted to the face of the said bed. I

Proceeding now to my arrangement of shifting the beltfrom the operatingpulley to the idle pulley, and applying a brake to the machinery, itwill be noticed that I accomplish both of these operations by one motionof the single lever, whereby the power is dismissed.

My combined shifter and brake consists essentially of a shaft orconnection, I, operated by a suitable handle or lever, I, themanipulation of which shall operate at a single motion, whereby thepower may be dismissed, and the brake applied, or vice versa. One formof belt-shifter, as shown in this application, consists of the shaft l,operated by the lever 1, the arm of which lever beyond the handleportion is provided with a slot for the accommodation of the lugentering it from the angular belt-shifter I, which is pivoted at i, asshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The motion transmitted to the angularpiece 1 will act alternately to shift the belt from one pulley to theother upon the shaft H.

As shown in Fig.2, W represents the working pulley, its neighbor beingthe idle pulley.

'The belt-shifter, as there shown, would cause the belt to operate uponthe working pulley. In this position it will be seen that the brake l isreleased. Now, if the lever I should be reversed, the belt will beshifted to the idle pulley, and the power thus dismissed from themachine, while at the same time and by the same operation the brake 1will be applied.

What I claim is- 1. In a printing-press, the combination, with rods B,of slides provided with hubs that serve as bearings for theactuating-shaft of the platen, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

.7. The combination, with the bed 0, rods or link 0 substantially as andfor the pur-' pose shown.

5. The combination of the frame A, the bed (J and its bearings, the arm0 the toggle O 0 the pitman (J and the crank of any suitabledriving-shaft,- substantially as and for the purpose shown.

6. In cembination with the oscillating bed or platen of aprinting-press, a cylinder, D

. and its piston D operated. by suitable mechanism t'or imparting areciprocating motion to the said piston, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

' 7. The combination of the sliding collar 0, link D cylinder and pistonD D and the locking-piece D substantially as and for the purpose shown.I

8. 1n combination with the t'risket-bar E the spring E provided with thelock-joint (1 substantially as and for the purpose described.

. 9. The combination of the shaft to which are attached the armscarrying the inkingrollers. ot'one or more springs G and anadjustingcollar, whereby the tension of the spring may be regulated asdesired, substantiall y as and for the purpose specified.

"'10. The combination, with "the bed G provided with extended ways f, ofthe plate E and stationary Ways, arranged outside of the ways f wherebythelatter may pass between and below the stationary'ways, 'as the bed isactuated, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

H. T. HOWER, FRANCIS TouMEY.

